United Kingdom

Researchers from the University of Tokyo pool knowledge of robotics and tissue culturing to create a controllable robotic finger covered with living skin tissue. The robotic digit had living cells and supporting organic material grown on top of it for ideal shaping and strength. As the skin is soft and can even heal itself, so could be useful in applications that require a gentle touch but also robustness.

Two years ago, Generali Group issued a new digital strategy in order to bring greater focus to their core business. The five pillars of this strategy are Agile, Innovation, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Smart Automation.

Badger Technologies has deployed a pilot program with Vallarta Supermarkets, a chain of 53 full-service markets throughout California, to reinforce operational and customer-service excellence. Badger Technologies multipurpose autonomous robots support the retailer by identifying hazards at five Vallarta Supermarkets in Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Vallarta also is testing the robot’s inventory management capabilities at a sixth location aimed at improving on-shelf product availability.

Companies that have a longstanding digital strategy are more agile, successful and have more satisfied customers. It’s no surprise then that C-level executives have automation second on their priority, according to Neil Ward-Dutton, IDC. The first benefit, agility, is especially important, since we have arrived in a new normal that isn’t stable but volatile. But if companies can embrace automation, it will reap more benefits than expected.

The immense potential of the Internet for social and economic good remains largely untapped despite 30 years of steady growth, according to a new report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies.

Organization face a broad spectrum of challenges. A major challenge is the Great Resignation. In the UK for example 43% of office workers are considering resigning from their jobs within the next months. As a result others are having to take up multiple new tasks, resulting in feelings of exhaustion. This means automation is becoming a top priority for C-level executives. Rocking Robots sat down with Gavin Mee, MD of Northern Europe at UiPath, to discuss these trends.

Realtime Robotics and Kawasaki Robotics will work together on automating the programming, deployment and control of its industrial robots. Realtime Robotics and Kawasaki have partnered on several projects, including helping a major automotive manufacturer improve the speed of programming by 70%.

In a few weeks the city of Rotterdam will host the European Robotics Forum (ERF). At this event science, business and public sector will meet to discuss all aspects of robotics. Rocking Robots will cover ERF as mediapartner., Preceding this event sat down for a preview with Professor Stefano Stramigioli and Nico Nijenhuis of Twente University, which organizes ERF on behalf of EU Robotics.

North American companies started the year by purchasing the most robots ever in a single quarter, with 11,595 robots sold at a value of $646 million. According to the Association for Advancing Automation, these Q1 numbers represent growth of 28% and 43% respectively over the first quarter of 2021 and 7% and 25% respectively over the previous best quarter, Q4 of 2021. Each industry segment experienced double-digit growth over the same quarter of 2021.

On June 14th a broad spectrum of aspects regarding automation will be highlighted at UiPath Together 2022. One of the industries which will be discussed on stage is Insurance, as sometimes unexpectedly innovative part of the sector Finance.  Rocking Robots discussed trends in insurance and automation with Elaine Mannix, Insurance Industry Expert at UiPath.